News and news reporting critique from the voice of the DreamC Network.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

An Un-Christmas Christmas Special

It's Christmas morning, and what's on people minds other than the holiday itself? The Interview.

Don't get me wrong. The premise is stupid, the actors are idiots, the screenplay is worse than an unfunny joke. None of that is any doubt to me. Here's what I want to talk about:

We cannot and will not negotiate with terrorists.

- Ferdinand Marcos

Numerous news agenciessee footnote) have likened the hackers that cracked Sony's doors to terrorists, bringing the term "cyber-terrorists" out of science-fiction (prophetic much?) and into current events. As a direct result of the cyber-terrorists' attack, Sony as well as many movie theatre companies have made the decision to appeal to the demands not to release the movie.

Again, I need to clarify my thoughts and my message.

This decision is not negotiation; it's plainly throwing in the towel. They're giving up!

The post-September 11th America I remember wouldn't do this. We banded together and struck back. I may have been a freshman in high school, but I remember it. Al-Qaeda made demands, and Americans denied them any satisfaction.

Pull your tail out from between your legs and demand the movie play as scheduled! If the terrorists, cyber or otherwise, are threatening theatres and patrons for their attendance, then by all means, make it a limited release and call in the national guard (if that makes you feel any better). Hell, if you're really that worried, appeal to Anonymous, that beacon of personal rights and freedoms.

...Or, maybe Hollywood needs a little more--dare I say?-- oversight (I hate that I'm saying this and connotations of that word) when selecting and producing screenplays. Whose bright idea was it to make such a movie anyways?

Here's what I say:

Decide for yourself, if you want to waste time and money on a movie that, despite its stupidity, someone still went through the money and effort to produce, or accede to the terrorists' demands, even if you're one of the few people who is actually interested in the comedy.

Oh, and of course, there's always this:

I can't remember where I heard this, but someone once said that defending a position by citing free speech is sort of the ultimate concession; you're saying that the most compelling thing you can say for your position is that it's not literally illegal to express.